Kansas City, Missouri – The Kansas City Health Department says it continues to keep an eye on mpox activity in the community, but it wants to make it clear that the danger to the general public remains low. Health experts said that all of the cases found in the area are linked to the Clade II strain. This is in line with what is happening in the rest of the country and usually causes less severe sickness.
Mpox mostly spreads when people touch each other’s skin closely. This involves close or se*ual contact, as well as living with someone who is infected and sharing bedding, towels, or clothes with them. Health officials say that some populations are more likely to get the illness and should take extra precautions.
The health department says individuals who are more likely to get sick include those who have more than one se*ual partner, men who have se* with men, transgender and nonbinary people, and people who have HIV or other illnesses that make their immune systems weaker. Officials say that awareness and prevention remain the best ways to stop the disease from spreading.
People with mpox frequently have a rash or lesions that hurt, as well as flu-like symptoms including fever and swollen lymph nodes. Most of the time, illness lasts between two and four weeks. People who have symptoms should stay away from other people as much as possible. People who are being tested should stay home until they get the results. Anyone who tests positive should keep away from others until all of their sores have healed and new skin has grown.
Health officials also urge people who test positive to notify close contacts promptly so they can monitor symptoms and seek vaccination if eligible. People who are at higher risk should be vaccinated. The Kansas City Health Department’s immunization programs are open during regular business hours on weekdays.
If you live in the area and aren’t sure if you’ve been vaccinated or think you might have symptoms, you should call your primary care provider or the health department for help. Officials warn that these actions, together with not sharing personal belongings and staying home while sick, can help safeguard both individual and community health as monitoring continues.
Learn more at kcmo.gov/health.
